Device for varying the stern angle of outboard motor boats



Aug. 22, 1961 o. PUCKETT 2,997,014

DEVICE FOR VARYING THE STERN ANGLE OF OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Filed Jan. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY WW7 ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1961 o. PUCKETT 2,997,014

DEVICE FOR VARYING THE STERN ANGLE OF OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Filed Jan. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllv INVENTOR asiwmwz' Puam rr ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,997 014 DEVICE FOR VARYING THE STERN ANGLE 0F OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Osbourne Puckett, '2407 Cherokee Road, Augusta, Ga. Filed Jan. 25, 1956, Ser. No. 561,220 7 Claims. (Cl. 115-17) This invention relates generally to outboard motor boats and more particularly to a device for adjusting the angular position of the motor with respect to the boat.

It is well known to outboard motor boat operators that the most elfective operation, in so far as speed, efficiency and planing characteristics of the boat are concerned, is obtained by maintaining the axis of the drive shaft between the outboard motor and its stub propeller shaft in a vertical position.

As is also well known, the angle between the drive shaft and the stern or transom of the boat which is often inclined, is termed the stern angle. Depending upon the planing characteristics of the boat, its forward speed, and the manner in which it is loaded, it is desirable and necessary to vary the stern angle when under way in order to maintain the drive shaft in vertical position to assure maximum performance.

Heretofore, various means means have been devised for varying the stern angle of boats and, in general, these are characterized by a number of inherently objectionable features. Among these are the necessity for stopping the boat in order to make the adjustment; the positioning of the adjustingmeans to the rear of the transom involving the danger of falling from the boat; an inadequacy in performance ofthe adjusting means where heavy outboard motors are concerned; a poor and unnecessarily complicated design and excessive cost; and a complete inability to make remotely controlled adjustments.

Accordingly, the chief object of the present invention is to provide improved means for varying the stern angle which will obviate the above and other objectionable features characterizing known structures.

1 An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for adjusting the stern angle which may be controlledfrom any desired point in the boat and without interrupting the operation of the motor and the boat.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an outboard motor tilting device which is adapted to cooperate with the conventional motor mounting brackets and the boat transom to vary the stern angle and which will distribute the static and dynamic load forces over a greater area of the transom.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for varying the stern angle of an outboard motor and boat which will prevent the motor from pulling away from the boat when in reverse and which is remotely controlled by fluid power means adapted to be positioned at any desired point in the boat.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an outboard motor boat showing the invention in operative position thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the stern angle increased to offset the upward tilt of the boat and maintain the drive shaft of the motor in vertical position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 but showing the stern angle decreased to prevent the bow of the boat from rising when conditions so warrant;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view to an enlarged scale and partly in section showing how the stern angle is greatly increased for boat launching, transportation on a trailer, etc.;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation of the motor tilting device forming a part of the present invention, in operative position against the rear face of a boat transom;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the device as shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view thereof showing the device in what would be the position of maximum stern angle when fixed to a motor as shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprising the present invention includes a motor tilting device indicated as a whole by numeral 10, a fluid line L, and a hand pump P, all of which cooperate to vary the stern angle S between the outboard motor boat B and its motor M.

The motor tilting device comprises a large, elongated, heavy flat plate 12 adapted to be rigidly secured by a plurality of screws 14 to the conventional transom latching mechanism of a motor and lies flat against the rear face of the transom T of the boat B; a single acting hydraulic ram 16 pivotally connected to the plate 12 by a pin 18 projecting through the base of the ram and a pair of spaced lugs 20 fixed to the plate 12; and a bracket arm 22 pivotally mounted in an enlarged collar 24 fixed to the upper end of the piston rod 28 of the ram 16, and at the upper end by a pair of spaced bracket arms 36 to the upper end of the plate 12 by means of a pin 30 pro jecting through the arms and the enlarged opening 32 of a heavy lug 34. p a

The collar 24 is materially shorter than the spacing of the side arms 36 of the 'bracket arm 22 for purposes of connecting the latter on each side of the collar 24 to the motor M as will be described. The piston rod 28 is maintained in the retracted position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 by means of a pair of heavy tension springs 38 whose lower ends replace cotter pins in the ends of the ram pivot pin 18 and are connected to the collar 24 by means of spaced eyes 40 fixed to the underside thereof.

The hydraulic ram 16 is provided with a pressurefluid inlet 42 adjacent its lower end to which the pressure fluid line L is detachably connected and passes through a suitably packed port in the transom T forwardly to the hand pump P. The latter is preferably positioned adjacent the remote steering and power controls conventionally provided in outboard motor boats and cruisers.

The structure described is readily fixed by screws 14 to the conventional transom latching mechanism of outboard motors such as M. As shown in FIGURES 1-4 inclusive, the outboard motor M with the tilting device 10 fixed thereto is positioned over the upper edge of the transom T and supported thereon by means of its laterally spaced saddle shaped clamps 44 having tightening screws 46. The plate 12 being fixed to the front edges of the rear clamp portions, the transom T is strongly gripped by the plate and the clamping screws 46.

The motor M is pivotally connected to the clamps 44 by means of an inverted L-shaped motor housing 47, the base of which extends between the clamps and is connected thereto by the pivot pin 48. The downwardly projecting leg of the housing 47 has an arcuate pillow block 52 fixed thereto as by welding for the reception of the collar 24 which is retained thereagainst by clamps 54 fixed to the housing 47 and engaging the bracket arm 22 on both sides of the collar 24. It will be noted that the weight of the motor is thus supported by the pivot pin 48 and the collar 24 and that stresses are transmitted through the latter to the plate 12 which distributes them over a substantial area of the transom.

The hand pump P is provided with an operating handle 50 and includes a relief valve (not shown) as is conventional. It will now be readily apparent that operation of the handle 50 will cause pressure fluid to extend the jack from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to that shown in FIGURES 7 or 4. As shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, this varies the stern angle from a minimum to a maximum. When the release valve of the pump is actuated, the heavy springs 38 retract the jack as much as desired up to the position shown in FIGURE 3.

It will be noted that the opening or bore 32 in the lug 34 enables the pivoting of the bracket arm 22-36 therein and the pivoting of the motor housing 47 at its pivot 48 without binding which would otherwise occur due to the different radii of swing and pivot points. The degree of tilt of the motor M is also increased thereby when the ram 16 is extended as well as by the fact that the opening or bore in the collar 24 is eccentric to increase the outward throw of the collar.

It will be readily apparent that the remote control of the stern angle provided by the present invention ensures a safety and efficiency of operation not heretofore possible in outboard motor boats. The very real danger of falling overboard while attempting to adjust the stern angle manually by known devices is completely eliminated.

The remote control of the stern angle provided by the present invention enables the attainment of maximum efficicncy in speed and economy of operation at an even keel from lowest to highest speeds; the maintenance of even keel and better vision by effecting improved planing of the boat due to the lifting of the stern by adjusting the vertical angle of the motor (minimum stern angle as shown in FIGURE 3); the use of a lower transporting trailer; and the launching, loading and operation of the boat in more shallow water. The motor M and the motor tilting device 10 may be readily removed from the boat B as a unit by loosening the conventional mounting clamps or latches 44 after first disconnecting the fluid line L from the hydraulic ram 16.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for an outboard motor having a pivot connection with a clamp for mounting the motor on the transom of a boat comprising a plate connectible with the clamp and engageable with the transom, extensible means pivoted to said plate and to the motor at a point spaced from said pivot connection, and power means operably connected to said extensible means to effect an extension thereof and a pivoting of the motor with respect to said clamp.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein spring means are connected to said plate and to said motor to effect a retraction of said extensible means.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein a bracket is pivotally connectible to said motor at said point and to said plate at a point spaced from the connection of the extensible means therewith to transmit static and dynamic forces throughout the area of said plate and to the transom.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said extensible means comprises a hydraulic ram.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein said power means comprises a fluid pump, and a conduit connecting said pump with the cylinder of said ram.

6. In combination, an outboard motor, a clamp pivotally connected thereto and adapted to mount it on the transom of a boat, a plate connected to the clamp to engage the transom, extensible means pivoted to said plate and to said motor at a point spaced from said clamp, and power means operably connected to said extensible means to effect an extension thereof and a pivoting of said motor with respect to said clamp.

7. In combination, an outboard motor, a clamp pivotally connected thereto and adapted to mount it on the transom of a boat, a plate connected to the clamp to engage the transom, extensible means pivoted to said plate and to said motor at a point spaced from said clamp, a bracket pivotally connected to said motor at said point and to said plate at a point spaced from the connection of the extensible means therewith to transmit static and dynamic forces throughout the area of said plate and to the transom, and power means operably connected to said extensible means to effect an extension thereof and a pivoting of said motor with respect to said clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,694 Weant Apr. 14, 1908 1,384,712 Thompson Sept. 6, 1921 1,845,712 Jacques Feb. 16, 1932 2,127,744 Linthwaite Aug. 23, 1938 2,151,712 Newhall Mar. 28, 1939 2,646,238 Kircher July 21, 1953 2,700,358 Johnson Jan. 25, 1955 2,713,842 Plouif July 26, 1955 2,737,920 Heath Mar. 13, 1956 2,755,766 Wanzer July 24, 1956 2,775,219 Curtis Dec. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS M28,797 Germany June 28, 1956 

